Rush Limbaugh moves stations, ending progressive talk in LA

Clear Channel is shaking up its Los Angeles radio stations in a big way. The network announced today that Rush Limbaugh will shift from KFI, the station at AM 640 where his brand of right-winginess has been king for a couple of decades, and anchor a new conservative talk lineup at KTLK AM 1150. The latter station has been the local outlet for the progressive talk format, featuring liberal chatter and content from even further to the left. That will go away — along with hosts Randi Rhodes and Stephanie Miller — and the station will be rebranded as The Patriot 1150. Limbaugh will air there along with Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck. Beck has not had an LA outlet lately and will air from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Limbaugh gets 9 to noon and Hannity takes noon to 3 p.m.

KFI goes all all local and all live except for the national overnight show "Coast to Coast." Morning host Bill Handel's show will add an hour and go until 10 a.m. Bill Carroll will shift earlier, to the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. slot. "John and Ken" will continue to air from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Tim Conway Jr., staying 7 to 10 p.m. at night. The open afternoon slot will be filled later, says All Access.

"Los Angeles is one of the most dynamic radio markets in the U.S. and we want to present the best of Talk radio from across the spectrum," said program director Robin Bertolucci. "These changes are designed to give our current and future programming a home where listeners can find and enjoy their favorite talk show hosts."

Limbaugh will also move to a previously liberal station in San Francisco. It all kicks in on Jan. 1.

The move in Los Angeles "is a blow to liberal talk radio, which has long struggled to build an audience," notes Real Clear Politics. "KTLK, once thought of as a potential competitor with KFI, now garners a fraction of the audience that KFI does. Limbaugh had a lengthy history with KFI, which he has referred to as his West Coast flagship station for years. When visiting Los Angeles in the past, he would perform his syndicated show out of KFI studios."

Limbaugh from his Facebook page